Mounting for latch handles



Sent; 3, 1. OTTINGER 1,641,988 mounuu FOR LATCH mumms Filed March 5,1924

1 m um 6 v INVEIyTOR 13 fear; 05827967,

A TTORNE Y Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEON OTTINGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

' MOUNTING FOR LATCH HANDLES.-

.Appllcation filed March 3, 1924. Serial No. 696,426.

This invention relates to an improved mounting for latch handles and thelike and has for its primary purpose to provide an improved bearingsupport for the handle shaft which will automatically accommodate itselfto variations in the angular relat on between the shaft axis and theopening through the door structure. To this end, I provide in oneembodiment of the lnvention, an annular bearing member mounted upon thedoor structure and d rectly receiving and supporting the handle shaft,said member being composed of a substantially waterproof compressiblematerial whereby 16 the inner circumference thereof will exert a uniformbearing pressure upon the periphery of the shaft, although said .shaftmay be eccentrically positloned with relation to the opening in the doorstructure 20 through which it extends.

Itis another object of the invention to provide an improved form ofesci'itcheon member fixed to the door structure at one end of theopening therethrough, said' cs cutcheon member having an annular hollowpart within which the compressible shaft bearing element is permanentlyconfined.

It is also a further general object of my invention to provide a bearingfor latch handles of the above character which is simple and inexpensivein its construction and may be easily and quickly applied to the doorstructure in position to receive the v latch handle withoutnecessitating the exercise of any special care or skill upon the art ofthe workman.

\Vith the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in theimproved latch handle mounting and in the form, construction andrelative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter morefully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing andsubsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein I have illustrated one simple and satisfactoryembodiment of the invention and inwhich similar reference charactersparts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through an automobile door showing oneembodiment of my improved handle shaft mountin Figure 2 is a detail viewpartly in secdesignate correspondingtion, showing the escutcheon memberbefore its final application to the door;

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 4 is a detail elevation of the compressible shaft bearingelement;

Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating a slightly modified form ofthe device as appligd to a different type of latch handle; an

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing still another modification of theinvention.

While in the following description, I shall describe my device moreparticularly with respect to itsapplication. and use in connection withlatch handles for automobile doors, it will be apparent as thisdescription proceeds, that such device likewise may be applied tovarious analogous uses where a simple and efficient bearing support foran operating shaft extending through an opening in the door or otherstructure, is desired. In such cases where the shaft is operativelyconnected at one side of the structure to a part to be actuated thereby,the opening receiving the shaft is often carelessly drilled, so thatwhen the shaft is positioned-therethrough, its axis will not exactlycoincide with the axis of said opening, but said shaft will be more orless eccentrically related to the Walls of said opening. Heretofore insuch instances it has been quite diflicult to properly fit and supportthe shaft in a hearing arranged at the opposite side of the doorstructure without severe binding or frictional'resistance to the turningmovement of the shaft, or without providing a bearing support ofrelatively complicated and expensive construction.

For purposes of illustration, I have shown my present improvements asapplied for use in connection with an automobile door 5, to the innerface of which a suitable latch means having an oscillating rollback 6,is applied. Since this latch constitutes no essential feature of mypresent improvements, it may be of any desired construction. Therollback 6 is actuated by the usual handle 7 having a cylindrical shaft8 terminating in a rectangular shank portion 9, the end of which isfitted into the bore of the rollback 6. and rigidly fixed therein. Themeans for fastening or securing the handle shank to the rollbacklikewiseconstitutes no essential part of the present improvements, and suchfastening means may consist of any one of but converge towards the freeedge of the end of the handle openin door. Therefore, if the handlereceiving opening 11 extending through said do or structure is boredthrough the door with lts outer end in concentric relation to the axisof the rollback 6, the end of said opening at the other side of the doorwill be eccentric with respect to the rollback. Therefore, when thehandle shaft'9 is fitted through sa1d opening and connected to therollback 6, the axis of said shaft will not exactly coincide with theaxis of the opening 11 through the door. Accordingly, if a rigid metalbushing were fitted into the outer end of the opening 11, it would nothave uniform bearin contact upon the eriphery of the handle s aft andunless said bushing is especially formed in accordance with the degreeof eccentricity of the shaft with relation to the opening 11, it wouldnot be possible to properly fit the shaft in said bushing without severefrictional binding engagement tending to retard the free rotation of thehandle shaft.

In my co-pending application for patent, Ser. No. 648,394, filed June28th, 1923, Patent No. 1,540,495, I have shown, described and claimed acombination escutcheon and shaft bearing member, wherein the metalescutcheon is provided with means having direct bearing contact upon theshaft and in which a part of said member is expanded under pressure intothe structure of the door whereby the member is fixed permanently inposition. In the present case, I likewise provide a sheet metalescutcheon member 12. This member in one embodiment consists of a onepiece metal sleeve or tube having a portion 13 adapted to project intothe outer 11 in the door structure and a diametrica ly enlarged hollowannular head 14 at one end of the por tion 13 of said sleeve. This headis adapted to receive an annular compressible bearing element 15, and asshown in Figure 2 of the drawing, the outer flange or wall 'of theannular head 14 is turned inwardly and downwardly over and upon theannular element 15 and at its edge has gripping or binding contacttherewith, as shown at 16, whereby said annular bearing element ispermanently confined within the annular channel or space of the head 14.

Preferably, the annular bearing element 15 is composed of a high gradeof felt of suitable texture and is impregnated with an animal oil forthe purpose of rendering the same substantially waterproof.

1,e41,ese

In applying this combinatidn bearing and escutcheon to the doorstructure, I may use a tool somewhat similar to that shown in myco-pending application last above referred to, whereby tongues or spurs17 are struck outwardly from he end edge of the part 13 of theescutcheon which pro'ects into the opening 11 and are firmly em edded inthe door structure 5 whereb the escutcheon is permanently fixed inposition upon the door. If desired, the tool may be so formed as toembed these spurs 17 in the door structure at the same time as theflange 16 of the escutcheon member is turned inwardly upon the bearingelement 15. It will be noted that in this instance, the element 15completely fills the annular channel of the head 14 of the cscutcheonmember, the inner diameter of said annular member 15 being predeterminedin accordance with the diameter of the handle shaft 8. Since, however,the structure of the bearing element 15 is inherently yieldable andcompressible, it will be apparent that as the shaft is forced throughsaid bearing element and the end of its shank 9 engaged in the bore ofthe rollback 6, said annular bearing element 15 in the inner portionthereof will automatically accommodate itself to any reasonableeccentric relation which said handle shaft might bear with respect tothe head of the escutche'on member or the wall of the opening 11, due tothe inaccurate boring of said opening through the door so that when thehandle shaft is fixed in connection with the rollback, the axis of saidshaft must necessarily be positioned out of alignment with the axis ofsaid opening. In practice, it has been demonstrated that such anautomatically compensating bearing su port for the handle shafteffectively su serves the purpose in view, and in addition to providingan adequate and firm support for the shaft, while permitting of its freeturning or rotating movement in the opening of the door structure, thecompressible bearing element of felt or other equivalent materialaffords a substantially dust and watertight closure between the handleshaft and the opening through the door. Further it will be seen that myinvention is adapted to use in connection with the ordinary type oflatch handles now commonl applied upon automobiles and no ad itions orchanges in the structure thereof are necessary. Since it is alsomanifest that the escutcheon member in which the bearing element isconfined may be produced by means of a simple sheet metal stampingoperation, the device as a whole will be, therefore, inexpensive.

My new method of application of the combined bearing and escutcheon tothe door structure further reduces cost incident to assembla e of thelatch in the door by reason of the fact that all fastening screwslooseness occurring at the rollback bearings,

the member 15 will automatically compensate therefor and tend to resistangular movement of the shaft relative to its axis which would otherwisebe caused by vibration transmitted through the door structure. Thus,rattling metallic noise by relative movement betweenthe rollback and thewalls of the latch case will be obviated. Preferably, as seen in Fig. 1of the drawings, the thickness of the yieldable material of whichthebearing member 15 is formed, is

a appreciably less than the diameter of the shaft receiving opening insaid member so that notwithstanding the fact that this material is of ahigh grade of wear resisting felt having its fibers more or less closelyunited, said bearing member will automatically adapt or accommodateitself to an appreciable degree of eccentricity in the relation betweenthe shaft and the axis of the opening 11 through the door.

In Figure 5 of the drawing I have shown the device in a slightlymodified construction as applied to another type of latch having avertical operating shaft or spindle 8. This shaft extends above theupper edge or sill of the door structure 5 and to the same a suitablehandle 7 is attached. Between this handle and the upper edge of the doormy improved bearing and escutcheon member is disposed. The escutcheonmember of sheet metal is substantially identical in its construction tothat previously described and is applied to the door structure in thesame manner. In this instance, however, the annular bearing member 15 ofcompressible material is of somewhat less diameter than the internaldiameter of the hollow annular head 14' of the escutcheon member. Thussaid annular bearing member may shift diametrically within said hollo\vhead when the end of the shaft 8' is inserted therethrough, inaccordance with the degree of eccentricity of the shaft end with respectto the opening through the door structure. At the same time, theopposite walls of the hollow annular head of the escutcheon memberprevent any axial movement of the bearing element 15 so that in suchlateral shifting of the bearing element the inner portion thereof willbe placed under compressing pressure. However, it

will be apparent that the same result is obtained in this case as inFigure 1 where the shaft extends transversely through the door, and acombined water and dust-tight closure for the end of the shaft openingand" an adequate bearing support for the handle shaft is provided.

In Figure 6 of the drawing, I have shown another alternative form of thedevice,

wherein the escutcheon member consists of a body section 18 in the formof a short metal sleeve or tube having an angular flange at one endproviding an annular channel or groove to receive the compressiblebearing annulus. The outer wall of the flange 13 is threaded to receivea flanged cap section 13*, the radially disposed wall of which hasclamping and bearing pressure against the outer side of the bearingannulus 15 whereby the latter is tightly secured in place. If for anyreason this bearing annulus should become loose, the cap member 13 maybe further adjusted so as to increase its pressure upon said annulus.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing, it is believed that the construction, manner ofuse and the several advantages of my present'improvements will be fullyunderstood. It will be appreciated that by elimi nating the contact of ametal bearing or supporting part with the shaft, wear of the latter issubstantially obviated and also any metallic rattling noise due tovibration is wholly overcome. I have found that a high grade of felt ofthe proper texture and of great durability may be obtained which will besubstantially immune to deterioration by the elements, temperaturechanges or analogous causes, and will practically retain its functionalcapabilities unimpaired for an indefinite period. I have illustrated anddescribed several different constructions and applications of myinvention, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom,since it is apparent that the device might also be exemplified in otheralternative constructions and applied to many other analogous uses.

Accordingly, I reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimatechanges in the form, construction and relative arrangement of theseveral parts as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A combined shaft escutcheon and hearing including an escutcheonmember having a hollow annular head and means projecting from one sidethereof for affixing the escutcheon member to a door structure, and ashaft bearing element of compressible material contained in said annularhead of the escutcheon member adapted to receive and yieldaloly sustainthe shaft in operative posiso i 3. In combination with a door structurehaving a latch handle receiving open1ng, a latch operating rollback atone end of said opening and an operating handle adapted to be connectedto said rollback; an escutcheon member fixed to the door structure atthe other end of said opening, and a continuous annular bearing elementof compressible material combined with said escutcheon member as a unitand having its shaft engaging surface normally concentric with theopening through the escutcheon member, said bearing elementaccommodating itself to an eccentric relation of the shaft with theshaft axis intersecting the axis of said opening.

4. In combination with a door structure having a latch handle receivingopen1ng, a latch operating rollback at one end of said opening and anoperating handle adapted to be connected to said rollback, an escutcheonmember consisting of a sheet metal sleeve fixed in the door structure atthe other end of said opening and said sleeve provided with a hollowannular head surrounding the latter end of the opening, and an annularshaft bearing element permanently confined in said hollow head of theescutcheon member and normally having its bearing face in concentricrelation with said sleeve, said bearing element yielding under pressureto accommodate itself to an eccentric relation of said shaft withrespect to the axis of said opening.

5. In combination. a structure having an opening therethrough, arotatable shaft EX, tending through said opemng to engage a partadjacent one end thereof, an annular member affixed to said structure atthe other end of said opening, and a supporting bearing for said shaftcomposed of compressible material carried by said annular member andoperatively supporting the shaft out of contact with said member.

6. In combination with a door structure having a transverse openingtherethrough and a latch handle shaft extending through said opening andconnected to a latch actuating rollback at the inner end thereof forrotation about a fixed axis; a bearing for nausea said shaft mountedupon the door structure adjacent to the outer end of saidopening andconsisting of an annular member having a structure capable of limitedcompression whereby said member may accommo-' date itself to an angularintersecting relation between the axes of the shaft and the openin andalso support the shaft for rotation in predetermined rojecting relationto the outer face of the oor structure and out of contact with the wallof said openin and said member providing a substantial y fluid tightclosure between the periphery of the shaft and the wall of said opening.

7. A combined latch shaft bearing and escutcheon comprising a metalsleeve adapted to be inserted into one end of the latch shaft openingthrough the door and permanently fixed to the latter, the other end ofsaid sleeve having a diametrically enlarged holl low head extending uponthe face of the door at the end of said opening and constituting anescutcheon, and a yieldable shaft bearing element of smaller internaldiameter than the sleeve permanently confined in said hollow head andautomatically accommodating itself to the arrangement of said shaft withits axis disposed in intersecting relation with the axis of the openingthrough the door without appreciably retarding the free rotation of thehandle shaft.

8. In combination with a door structure having an opening therethroughand a latch provided with a rotatable actuating member, an operatinshaft for the latch extending through sai opening, means for rigidlyconnecting one end of said shaft to said actuating member constitutingthe sole means retaining said shaft in assembled relation with the door,and a single bearing member for said shaft mounted u on the doorstructure in spaced relation to t e actuating member and having abearing surface of less diameter than said opening for supportingcontact with the shaft intermediate of its ends, said bearing memberbeing composed of a yieldable material adapting itself to an eccentricrelation of said shaft with respect to the axis of said opening whilesupporting said shaft for free rotation in definite projecting relationto the face of the door structure.

9. In combination with a door structure having an opening therethroughand a latch provided with a rotatable actuating member, an operatingshaft for the latch extending through said opening, means for rigidlyconnecting one end of said shaft to said actuatin member constitutingthe sole means retaining said shaft in assembled relation with the door,a supporting element fixed to the door structure at one end of saidopening, and an annular bearing member supported by said element againstbodily displacement relative thereto, having a bearing surface for theshaft of less diameter than said shaft for free rotation in definiteprosaid opening, and said surface extending jecting relation to the faceof the door struclongitudinally on the shaft for a distance ture.

appreciably less than the shaft diameter, In testimony that I claim theforegoing said bearing member being composed of as my invention, I havesigned my name yieldable material adapting itself to an echereto.

centric relation of said shaft with respect 7 to the axis of saidopening while supporting LEON OTTINGER.

